pps proceeding - Abstract Preview
pps proceeding
Symposium: S06 - Biopolymers and Polymer from Renewable Resources
Keynote Presentation
 
 

New processing techniques to produce blends and composites of high polar biopolymers with hydrophobic polymers

Carvalho Antonio Jose Felix (1)*

(1) University of São Paulo - São Paulo - Brazil

The combination of high hydrophilic materials with hydrophobic or non polar materials such as cellulose nanofibers with polystyrene in composites and chitosan with poly(lactic acid) in polymer blends has been one of the most relevant challenges in materials processing because of its very different nature and due to the growing interest in blends involving biopolymers and composites with nanocellulose fibers, among other materials such as inorganic nanofillers. The problem is related to the fact that these materials are usually processed in water as solution (p.ex. chitosan) or suspension (p.ex. nanocellulose) and when dried for do not melt in the case of chitosan or form hard agglomerates in the case of nanocelluloses. To overcome these difficulties we develop a process where water is used as a processing agent and is eliminate only when the non polar component is combined with the filler or with the water soluble polymer. The processes make use of emulsions and suspensions in order to conduct most of the process in water environment. The process develop are green and lead to very good dispersion that are absent of agglomerates. Composites of polystyrene and nanofibers of cellulose and polythiofenes and titanioum dioxide nanoparticles were also produced successfully. Blends or chitosan and thermoplastic starch which are high hydrophilic polymers where combined with polylactic acid and polycaprolactones with very good results in thermos of mechanical properties.